News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-04-14
STORY OF AN ADVENTURES.
The Story OF Beautiful But Err
ratio Missouri Belle.

ST. LOUIS, Mo.---There was printed
| here a despatch announcing that Will
liam Preston Hall had been paid by the
Public administrator of New York a
large sum, being his share of the pro-
ceeds of his mothers estate. This pay
ment is the elimination of romance
rich in incident. There was born at st.
Charles, Mo-, in 1887, Joanna Behrens,
daughter of DR.. Behrens, wealthy and
prominent physician. The child de-
veloped into a girl of great beauty, was
educated in a convent, and III 1886 was
the belle of the county. A gentleman
who knew her in those days said: ''She
was born to be the heroine OF TO-
nance. Her face was for years to me
the standard by which all female beauty
was to be Judged. [ do not know If L
have ever seen a more lovely woman
since. She was, think, slightly above
the average height of women, about 8
feet inches high, [ should Judge, full
and strong i'll every particular. Her
eyes were large, dark, and well shaded
by long lashes. She carried her head
like Queen"
Britt0n A. Hill was at this time ris-
ing young St. Louis lawyer, and is to-
day leading citizen of this city. He
was fascinated by the st. Charles belle,
and married her. They travelled in Eu
rope for number of years, but did not
live tremendously. The young wife's
beauty and intellect attracted the gal
lants of the gay European capitals and
the husbands position became so EN-
barrassing that separation took place.
She instituted proceedings for divorce.
He fled cross suit, charging her with
intimacy with Victor Emmanuel and
other notables. Dispositions were taken
in Two continents, and the case became
an international scandal. Mr.. Hill was
granted his divorce.
After the divorce was granted Mrs.
Hill, who had suffered in name and
social position to some extent by the
developments of the suit, left the city.
She was lost sight of for several years,
and then st. Lorlisans who travelled in
Europe wrote and brought back strange
stories of the sensational doings of the
beautiful and dashing American widow.
At one time she was III Rome, then in
Geneva. Then again she was heard of
in Paris and Berlin and in many of the
European capitals. She became famous
various methods. She cut some
thing of figure in politics in both
France and Italy. Mr.. Louis Hanson,
the wealthy New York tailor, advertised
for a housekeeper, and Mrs. Hill, under
the name and in the guise of widow,
got the situation. She married Hanson
in less than a week, and in less than
week afterward trouble began. They
also went abroad, where Hanson got
some startling information concerning
his wife. When they returned divorce
were begun, and after some
litigation they agreed to separate.
Final papers were to be signed on
July 4, 1885. On the day before Mrs.
Hanson sent for her husband and asked
him to take her out of the city to avoid
the noise of the Fourth. They went to
Storm King Mountain They were
alone. Two pistol shots were heard,
and people coming up found Hanson
dead with bullet through his head.
She said he shot at her and then COM
mitted suicide. She left the estate for
the Public Administrator to look after
and started for Australia by way OF the
Isthmus. She died on the way, and let
tiers and papers found in her baggage
revealed her identity. The clew was
followed, and resulted in putting the
wealth in young Hills hands.